I wasn’t planning to write again so soon. Originally, this was going to be part of the July 5th post, but that one turned into a lot—emotionally and also lengthwise (I was this close to adding a table of contents)—and by the end of it, there just wasn’t room to pivot to something fun.

So, let’s try something a little sunnier today. I’m excited to tell you about a work-in-progress that has me grinning every time I sit down to write—something completely different in tone and full of mischief, mystery, and possibly one very large dog with highly questionable detective skills. I’ve been sitting on this project—and grinning like a weirdo—time to share.

Let me introduce you to my newest literary troublemaker—one that’s been causing joyful chaos in my head. I’ve been working on a Christmas novella starring my favorite ten-year-old detective, Chaney Bridges. My plan is to use this story as a reader magnet—a free, irresistible offer to help build my Facebook Author Page and newsletter list. The goal is to launch it in December.

Even better? I hope this will be the first of a series of children’s chapter books featuring Chaney and his enormous, lovable, highly unqualified assistant, Gabe—a 90 lb. chicken in Great Pyrenees clothing, who’s afraid of garden gnomes and the occasional wayward plastic bag. Gabe excels at knocking things over, barking at suspicious leaves, and causing complete and utter chaos. And if you’re already a Chaney fan, you’re going to fall head-over-heels for Gabe. In exchange for solving mysteries, Chaney expects high-value compensation like pizza rolls, root beer, and possibly a slightly used Nintendo Switch controller. Gabe is in it for peanut butter and belly rubs. (He insists on both.)

Let’s end with a fun preview—these are the first few paragraphs of Chaney’s story, straight from the notebook. Want to know what kind of kid becomes Cowherd’s youngest detective? It all starts like this…

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I didn’t set out to be Cowherd’s youngest detective—it just sort of happened. One day I was the kid who asked too many questions, and the next, I was the kid who knew too much. I’m Chaney Bridges, age ten and three-quarters, and if something’s going down in Cowherd, Mississippi, I’m probably the kid hiding behind a shrub—taking notes. When you’re a kid, being small and quiet is your secret weapon. It’s like having a superpower that lets you disappear in plain sight.

It’s been weeks since I’ve had a real mystery to solve, and as Sherlock would say, my mind rebels at stagnation! Lily Jordan, my friend and neighbor, is gone, whisked away by the Witness Protection folks after we solved the biggest mystery Cowherd, Mississippi, had ever seen. I still have nightmares sometimes—echoes of the shouts and the flashing lights. And the gunshots—but I don’t like to think about that. Instead, I focus on keeping busy. Which is how Gabe—who once spent twenty minutes barking at a pile of laundry—became my Watson.

Gabe’s my Great Pyrenees, which sounds fancy until you realize he’s basically a small polar bear who’s afraid of his own shadow. I’m serious; the dog once hid from a box turtle for three hours. Still, a detective needs a sidekick, and Gabe’s all I’ve got. Desperate times call for desperate measures, and if it means I have to pretend he’s a brave beast instead of a ninety-pound chicken, so be it.

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So, there’s a quick sneak peek—something fun, fast-paced, and full of heart (and fur). I’ll post more as the story comes together, so stick around if you’re curious. Chaney and Gabe have a mystery to solve—and I’m hoping you’ll want a front-row seat.

Images are AI generated.